ECHO TO HOLY FATHER´S REQUEST TO REDUCE CONDEMNATIONS ON OCCASION OF THE JUBILEE

Rome, 28 (NE) Pope John Paul II´s message sent on past June 30 requesting a deed of mercy for the
imprisoned on occasion of the Jubilee Year is reaching the legislation of some countries. In the
document, the Holy Father noted that the diminution of penalties according to each case, “not only
would encourage those imprisoned to see the future with renewed hope, but it would also be a sign of
the progressive confirmation of a more authentic justice in the world that starts the third Christian
millennium.”

On July 9, President Bakili Mluzi of the African Republic of Malawi approved a law that reduced one
month of sentence to all those imprisoned. This measure implies a total reduction of 7,500 months of
sentence. The chaplain of the jails in Malawi stated that this gesture of “reconciliation and good will”
had been caused by the message of the Holy Father.

In Ecuador, the Commission of Civil and Penal Law of Congress stated that even though it hasn’t yet
been defined the way that the Pope’s request will be applied, it is thought that approximately 3,000
imprisoned would be benefited. The Pope’s message has also had repercussions in the legislation of
other South American countries such as Bolivia, Colombia and Chile. Only in Colombia hundreds of
imprisoned are expected to be liberated after the approval of the pertinent legislation.